3 council members want to move L.A. Marathon to a new date

Three Los Angeles City Council members introduced a motion Wednesday that, if approved, would return the Los Angeles Marathon to a Sunday in March in 2010. Currently, it is set on a “holiday Monday,” such as Memorial Day, the date it will be held this year.

“Although moving the marathon from Sunday to Memorial Day was a noble idea, L.A. Marathon LLC has run into many obstacles on the path to a successful marathon, which have proven to be insurmountable,” according to a copy of the motion presented by council members Tom LaBonge and Janice Hahn, and seconded by Bill Rosendahl.

“The number of entrants thus far is less than in past years, not a good sign for an event that the city had hoped would grow in stature among world-class marathons,” the motion reads. “In addition, the Monday holiday requirement has restricted national television broadcast coverage, a critical element to the success of the marathon.”

LaBonge said about 40 marathon runners visited City Hall on Wednesday to plead their case to the City Council.

“The big thing is the heat,” LaBonge said of why the runners wanted to move the race.

A statement released by LaBonge’s office said marathon organizers “moved the 2009 race date to Memorial Day to appease clergy whose houses of worship are located along the 26.2-mile route. Ministers and priests have long complained that their congregants can’t attend services on Marathon Sunday because of the many street closures required by a foot race through the city.”

“I am a man of faith, and I’m not an expert on religion, but a fellow named Jesus would be out there giving people water,” LaBonge said. “It’s an inspirational thing.”

The motion will next go to a council committee that will make a recommendation to the full City Council.

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ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com